(Updated 5/20)  Attention Southwesterners!  Big Dog Ink will be at Phoenix Comic Con May 23-26.  Stop by booth 640/642 to meet some of our amazing creators and pick up some great Big Dog swag.

Check out this amazing Pheonix exclusive version of The Legend of Oz: The Wicked West #8!  This gorgeous art is by Mike DeBalfo and Nei Ruffino, and it’s likely to sell out.  Be sure to stop by our booth to snag a copy!

What about the guests, you want to know?  Well, since you asked so nicely…

Island Tales creator/writer Stephen Smirl will be at the BDI booth! If you like modern interpretations of classic fairy tales, you’re going to love Stephen’s series of Island Tales comic books adapting Hawaiian and Polynesian myths, folklore and more! Stephen will have a ton of books available to sign, and maybe might even tell you about how soon you can get a hold of this great series at a local comic book store near you!

Artist C.B. Zane will be signing and appearing exclusively at the Big Dog Ink booth all weekend long! C.B. is the artist for our new Critter spin-off miniseries, The In Crowd and we’re thrilled to have him joining us for the weekend!

None other than the Big Dog himself, Tom Hutchison, will be representing us this weekend!  One of the most hands on, accessible creators in comics today, Tom is the ringleader of our merry band of finger-painting, comic book-making rebels for the entire weekend. Be sure to stop by and say hi!

Arizona local Wayne Gardiner will be joining the party, and he’s bringing Knightingail with him!  This will also be fans’ first chance to pick up issue #1 of Knightingail: Shadow Divisions as an amazing Phoenix Comicon exclusive! Talk about a treat for our Phoenix fans!!

Speaking of cool people from Arizona, we’ll also have Ian Snyder, THE man behind BDI’s wildly successful Ursa Minor, doing sketches and signings for fans exclusively at our booth!

Artist Owen Gieni will also be signing and sketching exclusively at the BDI booth all weekend long. This is a rare appearance for Owen, so show him a warm Big Dog welcome by stopping in and saying hey!

And be sure to stay tuned, here and on our Facebook page, for more announcements!

Comics for Sinners is ending their weeklong focus on BDI’s hot upcoming series, Shahrazad, with a special treat: an interview with our top dog, Tom Hutchison!

COMICS FOR SINNERS: So tell us noobs about Shahrazad and then about YOUR version.

TOM HUTCHINSON: Shahrazad is of course the Arabian Queen from 1001 Arabian Nights, who told stories to keep herself alive. But while other stories concentrated on the fantasies she created, we [at BDI] are instead focusing on Shahrazad herself. At its core, Shahrazad is a fantasy adventure story, but what it really is is an exercise in creativity. We have a concept and back story for Shahrazad in place, we have an over-arching storyline that will thread all of our stories together over time but the idea is to tell a writer what we have in mind and just say… go! It allows for some amazingly creative stories that will at first not make complete sense as there will be quite a bit of genre mashing going on, but trust me, it’s all there for a reason.

Be sure to visit C4S for the full interview and a chance to win a full set of the limited edition C2E2 Shahrazad prints.

 This summer, the comic book series that launched a company returns.  Three years ago Big Dog Ink creator/writer/editor Tom Hutchison printed a few thousand copies of the #1 issue of an unknown comic book…and then promptly printed thousands more when the first edition sold out in comic book stores around the country.  Penny for Your Soul: War was a smash hit, and helped launch not only Tom’s career, but a comic book publishing company.  This summer, hot on the heels of best-selling Joan of Arc: From the Ashes, Penny for Your Soul returns with the third installment of this smash-hit series, Penny for Your Soul: Death!

Tom Hutchison returns to delve even further into the story of Danica, the granddaughter of the Devil, as she continues to claim her place in the age old battle of good vs. evil, and carve out her roll in the end of days battle between Heaven and Hell!  Which side will she choose?  Why her own of course, but she won’t be doing it by herself.  Longtime friends will return, along with new companions, and the sarcastic, snappy, sexy but always smart, story that fans have come to expect from Big Dog Ink’s guilty pleasure in a comic book!

Big Dog Ink believes in bringing fans consistent quality, which is why the art team of JB Neto on pencils and Oren Kramek on colors for interiors and “A” covers also return when Penny for Your Soul marches one seal closer to the final battle and the next horseman of the apocalypse appears!  A new addition to the team, superstar up and coming artist Jen Broomall is bringing the sexy back as she lends her pencils to the “B” covers.  Issue #1 will also feature an amazing 1/10 retailer variant with a painted cover by total package artist Natali Sanders!

Available for pre-order in the June Diamond Previews catalog and releasing this August, Penny for Your Soul: Death will follow in the tradition of its predecessors as a 7-issue mini-series event.  This hot and provocative comic will ship monthly and retails for $3.50.  For more information or promotional materials see www.bigdogink.com or drop an email to Kim@bigdogink.com.   

Marc R. Baum (yes, of that Baum lineage), was kind enough to write the forward to the first collected edition of BDI’s The Legend of Oz: The Wicked West.  Check out what he had to say below:

For some time, I have held the very strong belief that there are five truly great comic books in the world. Arguable, yes. True? Yes. I’ll allow you to figure out which they are. I know it seems narrow minded to some, but the truth is, there is a great lack of imagination when it comes to the genre I love. That being said, I approached The Legend of Oz: The Wicked West series much as a child approaches brussel sprouts. With a certain knowledge that, while I had not experienced it, I was going to hate it.

As a member of the executive commit for the All Things Oz museum and the Oz-Stravaganza! Festival in Chittenango, NY – birthplace of L. Frank Baum – I was certain that the drudgery of this new spin on the classic tale was not going to delight me and my fellow Ozians, but rather disappoint and disillusion us. A western remake of L. Frank Baum’s most famous story in a comic book form. Indeed.

Yet I am amazed that as much of a fan of Oz as I am and as much of a comic book fan as well, I could be actually pleasantly surprised by a book. In fact the involuntary smile that crept upon my face was not unnoticed by others as I turned the pages of issue after issue.

What author Tom Hutchison has done is take a step back and imagine a world where Dorothy Gale is familiar while at the same time exhilaratingly fresh and new. A character we remember from a childhood fairy tale, all grown up. A sideways glance and a tip of the hat to L. Frank Baum and all that the OZ universe represents and a tale that captivates you from the first page.

Ruby spurs are not to be worn lightly, and travels that take you over the rainbow are never to be thought of as frivolous. What Hutchison and a team of talented artists manage to do is re-imagine something as frightening as a green witch with an arsenal of flying monkeys. The characters have a depth that makes them immediately believable and the story draws you in, in my case actually leaning into the page as I read.

There are few books in my collection that include the “alternate” special covers, yet this collection has every one. The penciling and ink, color and overall art is so magical, it could be framed (and IS framed in the All Things Oz museum). Alisson Borges and Kate Finnegan deserve special recognition for their work as artist and colorist, and I would be remiss to not give ‘props’ to the variant cover artists, Jenevieve Broomall, Nei Ruffino, Victoria Page and Fausto Hernandez, and Mike DeBalfo, Natali Sanders, Corey Knaebel, Ian Snyder, and Owen Gieni.

Any collector of comics and graphic novels, and any collector of OZ universe items must have the Collected Edition…but more over – any collector of good storytelling, wonderful artwork, and an appreciation for an alternate look at a classic favorite will be delighted with this work.

When Tom asked me to write the forward, I could think of no greater honor. Above all else, I am a fan of Tom’s work. It has made my list. I have had to accept that I was wrong. There are six truly great comic books in the world. Without further delay, it is my honor and a privilege to introduce you to the Legend of Oz: The Wicked West.

Marc R. Baum

Big Dog Ink June 2013 Solicitations

The Legend of Oz: The Wicked West #9

Writer: Tom Hutchison
Artist: Alisson Borges
Cover A: Alisson Borges
Cover B: Nei Ruffino
A & B covers ship 50/50

Hop on board as we delve deeper into the mystery behind the Emerald City mines.  The excavation at the Emerald City has picked up steam, but Dr. Pipt isn’t sure he can be part of it any longer.

$3.50

Serusis #1

Writer/Creator: Tom Hutchison
Artist: Owen Gieni

Cover A, B, C: Owen Gieni
A, B &C Covers ship in equal quantities

Welcome to Serusis. A planet merely thousands of years old, and one that has just been taken over by a hostile force. Relitons swarm the planet’s cities and their leader, General Snogard, will not stop until he controls the planet and the name of Asta is once again feared by the Serusian inhabitants. Big Dog Ink’s first all ages book brings the excitement and adventure of a science fiction story and mixes it with fantasy and art reminiscent of some of the best animated cartoons of the 80′s. There is something for everyone in this comic as four humans are abducted and called to action to help the Serusians take back their planet!

$3.50

Critter #13

Writer/Creator: Tom Hutchison
Artist: Fico Ossio

Cover A: Fico Ossio
Cover B: Romano Molenaar
A & B Covers ship 50/50

Big Dog Ink’s first event series “High Tide” continues as the world’s heroes struggle to find a way to defeat Tidepool. But help is on the way.

 $3.50

The In Crowd #1

Writer: Eric Esquivel
Artist: C.B. Zane

Cover A: C.B. Zane
Cover B: Corey Knaebel
A & B Covers ship 50/50

As Tidepool begins his epic destruction of the United States, a group of young heroes takes the scene by storm — with their cameramen in place to get their good sides on film! From the pages of Critter, The In Crowd mixes the fun of superheroes with the ridiculousness of the reality TV craze. They’ve got great hair, great bodies, and great power. But great responsibility? Not so much!
$3.50

In October, 2012 a comic book series that has had fans talking for more than a year will return.

The Legend of Oz: The Wicked West has been a hit since it’s debut in October of 2011. A Diamond Top 300 book for multiple issues. The Wicked West is a western adaptation of L. Frank Baum’s Wonderful Wizard of Oz, and was unlike anything anyone had ever heard of…or conceived. The wild west setting was a perfect mix for the classic Baum story and allowed for a twist that has captured the imaginations of comic book readers and Oz fans alike. Not merely a sexualized, adult version of the story we all know, but a true reimagining complete with a Dorothy Gale that takes no guff and goes through the wilds of Oz looking every inch the tough as nails cowgirl that she is along with her trusty steed, Toto.

Written by Tom Hutchison, the initial 6 issue mini series (which wraps it’s story this August) shows us an Oz that is both familiar and vastly new. And while the story follows the same basic tenants of Baum’s original Oz story, the ending is decidedly different.

Returning with Hutchison, who is writing the first 5 issue story arc of the new series, is artist Alisson Borges and colorist Kate Finnegan. Alisson has grown into this world and these characters and is absolutely making them his own while Kate has magically transformed not only Alisson’s work but also her own in creating colors that bring this story, and these characters to life and making them jump right off the page. Together they are a team that everyone at Big Dog Ink wanted back, and we are lucky to have them. Also returning to the series is cover artist, Nei Ruffino. Her alternate covers have been fan favoristes from the beginning and we are very happy to have her back for more!

Watch for news on the release including order codes and variants that will be available at upcoming comic conventions including the debut at New York Comic Con in October with a cover by the super talented Eric “Ebas” Basaldua just to get us started!

In this traditional Hawaiian story a young man’s boasting leads him into a a life and death contest. By Ray Dillon, Steven Forbes, Kel Nuttall, and Stephen Smirl.

Island Tales: Pikoi the Rat Killer | 24pg. | Color | $3.50 US + shipping

Big Dog Ink returns to the midwest April 13-15, 2012 for C2E2! Appearing at booth 701 will be Legend of Oz: The Wicked West, Critter and Penny for Your Soul writer/creator Tom Hutchison as well as cover artists Nei Ruffino and Jenevieve Broomall. Both of these artists have done covers across the Big Dog Ink line including Ruffino’s stunning Wicked West covers and Broomall’s very special wraparound Legend of Oz C2E2 exclusive cover for issue #3. Come by and say hello!

Now through March 31st 2012 just enter the code MARCHMADNESS2012 to receive 25% off your entire Big Dog Ink store purchase! Oz, Critter, Penny, Island Tales and more! Don’t miss a chance to catch up on missing issues and rare variant covers! Happy March Madness from Big Dog Ink!